FIVE men of Harlech are hoping for glory when they take on a formidable endurance challenge in honour of two brain tumour sufferers.

On Saturday, 9 June, one of the world’s toughest endurance races - now in its 41st year - will see five amateur Meirionnydd mariners participate.

Matt White, Ben Bailey, Ben Cartwright, Gwion Llwyd and Ed Bailey - all from the Harlech area - are planning to take on some of the UK’s most hardened endurance competitors in the infamous Three Peaks Yacht Race.

Their team is aptly named Gwyr Harlech/Men of Harlech.

The Barmouth to Fort William race is not for the fainthearted. Its punishing route involves sailing up the UK’s wild west coast and running up its highest summits - Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis.

The sail distance is just short of 400 sea miles and the runners will cover the equivalent of three to four marathons in less than five days.

The hardy fivesome decided to take on the challenge after refusing to accept that the end of their local rugby lives should means the end of competitive energy expenditure.

The more serious inspiration was their desire to come together to do something positive in memory of a close friend who died recently, and to raise some money for an appropriate charity.

Ed Bailey said: “I’m really excited about the prospect of racing alongside Matt, Ben, Ben and Gwion in an event which will push our bodies to the extreme. It’s all in aid of a charity that I know was very close to the heart of my friend Tom Walker, who sadly lost his brave fight against a brain tumour last December.

“Tom would have been 38 in June and leaves behind him his wife Jackie as well as two young sons. He was one of the very best rugby players that I ever had the privilege of playing with, a great father and brilliant friend to all those that knew him.

"He will always be remembered and I hope that our participation in what is going to be a gruelling challenge will help bring the very important work that the Brain Tumour Charity does for patients.

“We are also dedicating our participation in this race to Steffan Owen, his partner Leah and their family. Steffan is currently fighting another battle now against Leukaemia, having fought initially so bravely also against a brain tumour.

"Steff has in his own right raised thousands of pounds for charity and he deserves for people to work equally hard for him and his family.”

The team, by their own admission, have very little experience of both sailing and running marathons, but have been working hard to get their boat - a 30-foot yacht - ready for the challenge. They have also worked hard to reassure the boat’s owner Will Bailey - Ben Bailey’s father - that it will be returned to him in one piece.

Donations can be made to the Brain Tumour Charity via Just Giving at www.justgiving.com/Edmund-Bailey